The dazzling Las Vegas, known as the Paradise City of the West, carries titles like "World Tourism Capital" and "Marriage Capital." It boasts one of the nation's largest shopping plazas, delicious food from all over the world, and a 24-hour civil affairs bureau—meaning that at any time of day, you and your partner can get a marriage certificate.
At the same time, this beautiful city is also called the Sin City—a place Christians would never wish to set foot in during their lifetime, yet one they dream of conquering. It is one of the four great gambling cities, littered with casinos, riddled with gangs, and crawling with countless criminals.
Melin followed Logan here and found one of his old comrades, "Ghost" John.
"I can't believe it, Logan. You actually made a new friend."
Facing John's teasing, Logan shot back, "Of course. A man's life can't just revolve around a bunch of old bastards."
"So he must be a good guy," John said as he looked at Melin, his years of experience making him distrustful.
"Yeah, he saved me and… helped me kill Zero."
"Zero? Damn, he came after you?"
"Yeah. I was his final target—one he could never complete."
"…"
"…"
"Then he must really hate you. You know his code."
"Of course. I'm honored."
"So you're not just here for a reunion, are you?" John asked.
"Victor killed my girlfriend. I'm hunting him."
"You're sure it was Victor?"
"Absolutely."
"Damn it! I mean… sorry for your loss."
"…What happened after I left?"
"He got worse. Bloodthirsty. Cruel. He felt abandoned by you. You know, even though we all went through hell, Victor always tried harder than you—to prove he was better. He hunted every target assigned to him with ruthless efficiency."
As he spoke, John was dragged into painful memories and added, "After a few months, even I couldn't stand rounding them up anymore."
"Rounding up who?"
"Don't ask, Logan."
"Rounding up who, John?!"
Faced with Logan's insistence, John didn't want to answer, knowing that once he spoke, the guilt would flood back, and the souls of the dead would haunt him again. But he knew Logan's character—once he wanted to know, he would not let go.
"We were hunting our own kind! Hunting mutants! Logan, we committed countless atrocities! Hell surely has a place reserved for us!"
"Why?" Logan found it hard to believe—after all, Stryker had always worked with mutants.
"Stryker said we had to make a difference—to protect people from evil mutants," John explained.
But in this heavy atmosphere, an ill-timed laugh suddenly broke out.
"Pfft—hahaha… Sorry, couldn't hold it in. You guys continue." Melin quickly apologized when he saw both of them looking at him.
"Hey, pal, you think this is funny?" John flared up. This was his deepest nightmare, something he had spent years suppressing. Yet to Melin, it seemed like a joke.
"John, if I were you…" Logan, though also finding Melin's behavior inappropriate, decided to warn his old friend, mindful of Melin's strange abilities.
But—
It was clearly no use.
"Shut up, Logan! He's your friend, not mine!" John shouted and strode toward Melin, intending to lift him up and teach him a lesson. But…
Unfortunately, before he could reach Melin, he stopped. A refreshing stream seemed to flow through his limbs, extinguishing his rage.
"Damn it, you're a mutant too? What ability is this?" John asked in shock.
"I'm not a mutant. Call me Melin, if you like," Melin introduced himself calmly.
"Strange name… feels familiar somehow… never mind. But Melin, answer me—did you really find it funny?"
"A little," Melin admitted, "but it's in two parts—one is happiness for you, the other is just genuinely funny."
"Looks like your friend's no saint either, Logan. I've committed all these crimes, and he's happy for me," John said self-deprecatingly.
Logan frowned slightly. He was curious about Melin's next words—after all, he had spent enough time with Melin to know he wasn't a madman.
"Because you recognize the wrongness of what you've done. To be able to see your own sins proves… you're still human. Shouldn't that be something to be happy about?"
Logan and John were stunned and then simultaneously gave a bitter smile. Logan smiled because Melin was still the same—spouting profound truths that were hard to fully grasp. John smiled because, weighed down by his guilt, he felt a slight relief for the first time in a long while.
"As for the funny part… you picked the wrong place. When you die, you don't go to hell—you go to the underworld. Based on your sins, you'll be sent to different regions for punishment. Hell isn't for just anyone. There are only two ways for humans to end up in hell: either as a sacrificed soul or by signing a contract with a demon. Either way, once a soul goes to hell, endless torment awaits."
Logan and John were stunned again. It sounded like Melin was telling a legend—but the way he spoke made it feel almost real.
"And as for Stryker saying you were protecting people from evil mutants—that's nonsense. You never even truly understood your boss. Stryker's own son was a mutant. When his son's powers awakened, he lost control and accidentally killed Stryker's wife. Since then, Stryker has harbored deep hatred toward mutants. His real goal is to exterminate all mutants. Using you and researching mutants was just a means to that end.
There is a real organization that arrests mutant criminals. I think you've heard of it—it's pretty active," Melin continued.
"You mean the X-Men? Yeah, they're a good bunch," John acknowledged.
Even though he had left Stryker's team before the X-Men were founded, over the years, he had often helped distressed mutants to ease his guilt. He had even crossed paths with X-Men members, who once invited him to join. He refused.
In John's eyes, the X-Men were a force for good. A butcher like himself, hands stained with innocent blood, didn't deserve to work with them.
Logan, meanwhile, had spent the last few years living quietly in the wilderness with his girlfriend, cut off from news of the outside world.
"You know them?"
"Of course. If not for them, the world would have fallen into chaos by now," John praised.
"Actually, John, you'd make a good X-Man. Your past sins aren't an excuse. Knowing your guilt just means you have a heart left to redeem. The dead can only be mourned—but the living are still waiting for help," Melin said.
John's powers weren't strong—his teleportation was limited in range and had no major offensive strength—but so what? The X-Men never chose members based solely on power. Since John had the heart to atone, Melin didn't mind pointing him toward a better path.
"…Forget it. Someone like me…" John said, tempted but ultimately refusing.
Logan felt a pang of emotion. Back when they served under Stryker, John was one of the few comrades he truly got along with. Seeing him like this now made him uncomfortable.
Melin only smiled and didn't push further. After all, John would be joining them in the hunt for Victor and Stryker—there would be plenty of opportunities along the way.
"Alright, back to business. John, do you know where we can find Victor?" Logan steered the conversation back.
"I don't. We lost contact a long time ago. But there's a place where we might find a lead."
"Where?"
"An island. But I don't know exactly where it is. Stryker's very cautious—only Zero knew everything. But Dukes might know. He and Zero were best friends."
"Dukes? Fred Dukes? Where is he?" Logan exclaimed. This really was turning into an old friends' reunion.
"He's right here."
"Then let's go find him."
"Don't rush, Logan. You can't go before four o'clock," John said, popping open another beer. "Let me warn you: he developed an eating disorder. We all have our coping mechanisms. I'm trying to help him recover. If you want his help, whatever you do, don't mention his weight."
"Alright…" Logan nodded.
"By the way, Logan, have you figured out a way to beat Victor? No offense—you know, back then…"
"Remember Africa?"
"Of course. I lost a friend that day."
Logan didn't answer. He simply raised his right fist—metal claws instantly sprang out.
"Holy hell, brother, what the hell did they do to you?" John gasped.
"Don't ask."
"Alright…" John didn't press when he saw Logan's reluctance.
They drank for a while, until John suddenly remembered something and looked at Melin in astonishment.
"Melin, if I remember correctly… the X-Men's headquarters is in Athens. They're affiliated with a mysterious organization called Sanctuary, right?"
"And?" Melin asked, smiling faintly.
"According to some intel I heard… apparently, there's a god living in Sanctuary. A god named Melin. Ring any bells?"
Logan almost dropped his beer. Yet Melin wasn't panicked by John's suspicion. Instead, he smiled calmly and asked back—
"What do you think?"